'Sky is limit' for Martin in new role, age factor aside

With all the lines marking his rugged face, Mark Martin may look the part of a 50-year-old man. But he certainly doesn't play the role.

As Martin prepares to embark on a new chapter in his already storied career as a NASCAR driver, he's talking a young man's game and makes it clear, along with his new crew chief, that he stands poised to chase a young man's dreams. At an age when most drivers are long retired, Martin thinks he can contend for a championship this year in the No. 5 Chevrolet he will drive full time for Hendrick Motorsports.

Strike that. He devoutly believes that with the support of team owner Rick Hendrick and his organization, and the brains of crew chief Alan Gustafson, all Martin has to do is his part and he will be in the hunt for the title that has narrowly eluded him four times in nearly three decades of pursuing it.

"It's unbelievable to have this kind of opportunity at this stage of my career," Martin said. "Rick has been incredible. I think Alan and that race team are capable of winning races and competing for a championship, and I just hope I can experience that with them."

Talk with Martin these days for a few moments and you quickly pick up on one of his new catchphrases. He wants the No. 5 team "to realize its full potential." So does Gustafson, who is even clearer about spelling out exactly what they believe that is.

"To me, our full potential is winning the championship," Gustafson said bluntly. "Whether we can do that this year or not, I don't know. That's very hard to do. I mean, look at Mark Martin. He's as good as anybody I've been around -- and I've been fortunate to be around some really good ones. For him not to have won it shows you how hard it is.

"There is no reason in the world that man shouldn't have a championship or multiple championships. It's tough to do. We need to win races, we need to get in the Chase, and then we need to compete in the Chase. This team, I think, is capable of doing that. Now we just have to go out and get it done." (Continued)